New research from scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center underscores the importance of preventing recurring acid reflux while also uncovering tantalizing clues on how typical acid reflux can turn potentially cancerous. [click link for full article]

Many people with long-standing high blood pressure develop heart failure. But some don’t. Daniel P. Kelly, M.D., and colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions are trying to figure out what could explain that difference.Their latest research reveals that impaired energy production in heart muscle may underlie heart failure in some hypertensive patients. [click link for full article]

An improved antipsychotic medicine, a cost-effective, environmentally friendly polyester production process, a new treatment for patients with iron-overload from transfusions, a new method using corn instead of petrochemicals to create numerous products and a process that improves packaging for food are the inventions of the 2007 Heroes of Chemistry. The scientists will be honored for these accomplishments in Boston on Aug. [click link for full article]

An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that trigger cancer cell growth is vital to the development of more targeted treatments for the disease. An article published in Molecular Cell provides a key to these mechanisms that may prove crucial in the future. The paper is co-authored by Dr Morag Park, Director of the MUHC Molecular Oncology Group, and Dr Kalle Gehring, Head of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonnance Laboratory of the McGill University Biochemistry Department. [click link for full article]

Women have a “female advantage” when it comes to chronic kidney disease. When compared to men, they have fewer and less severe episodes of this disorder throughout most of their lives. That advantage disappears, however, when the woman is diabetic. For reasons still unclear, diabetic women — regardless of age — are diagnosed with kidney and heart diseases almost as frequently as men. [click link for full article]

Metastasis — when cancer cells dissociate from the original tumor and migrate via the blood stream to colonize distant organs — is the main cause of cancer death. A team of scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science has now revealed new details about the mechanisms controlling metastasis of breast cancer cells. [click link for full article]

The United States Government and UNICEF have joined forces to provide temporary shelter for 78,000 households affected by recent flooding in the north of Sudan, through an in-kind donation of 1,300 rolls of plastic sheeting. The materials will be used as part of the Common Pipeline System, a quick-response distribution network managed by the UN Joint Logistics Centre, UNICEF and the non-governmental organization CARE International. [click link for full article]

UNICEF highlighted the looming health crisis facing millions of children as monsoonal rains have left many stranded by floodwaters and in urgent need of fresh water, food and shelter. “Entire villages are days away from a health crisis if people are not reached in the coming days,” said Dr. Marzio Babille, UNICEF’s health chief in India. “Many of the affected areas are home to poor communities who suffer from lack of sanitation and hygiene year round. [click link for full article]

The MS Society has grants available to help people living with MS who have been affected by the recent floods to hit many parts of the UK.John McCrohan, MS Society grants manager, said: “Not everyone had their home and contents insured against the floods. We have already made grants to families to help with the cost of clothes, household appliances and furnishings. Grants of up to £500 have been awarded in some instances. [click link for full article]

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre have been given a cash boost from Cancer Research UK to help them investigate new ways to prevent bowel cancer. [click link for full article]